Authorities have arrested two people, including a doctor, in connection with a death earlier this month that they say was staged to look like an ATV accident.

Yazoo County Sheriff Jacob Sheriff confirmed that Dr. Larry Cooper, 67, of Jackson, was arrested by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and was in the Yazoo County Jail Friday morning in connection with the death.

Also arrested Thursday was John Henry May, 57, of Jackson, who was taken into custody by the Yazoo County Sheriff's Department.

John Henry May(Photo: Yazoo County Jail)

According to jail records, both men are charged with hindering the prosecution, accessory after the fact of murder, and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Roger Lee Scruggs Jr., 44, of Brandon, appeared to have been killed in an ATV crash at first, but authorities later said that it looked like he had been killed somewhere else.

Scruggs' body was found near where an ATV appeared to have crashed in a creek Dec. 2 off Wildwood Road in Vaughn. Authorities later said it appeared the scene was staged.

Cooper, who was arrested at Greenwood Leflore Hospital where he works as a contract physician, is the brother of Hinds County Court Judge and former Jackson city councilwoman Larita Stokes. Stokes' husband is Jackson city councilman Kenneth Stokes.

Hospital officials released this statement Friday:

"At approximately 9:p.m. last night (Dec. 21), the administration of Greenwood Leflore Hospital was made aware of the arrest of Dr. Larry Cooper as he reported to work. He was arrested without incident by officers of the Greenwood Police Department. Dr. Cooper has served as a contract physician through the GLH Hospitalists firm since 2008. He is board certified in family medicine and works as an on-site physician for patients who have been hospitalized.
“Everyone I have spoken to has been shocked by this,” said GLH administrator Jim Jackson. “At this point all we know is what we are reading in other news outlets, and we will share information as we receive it,” Jackson said. “It’s sad news all the way around. We have never had any reason to question Dr. Cooper’s ability as a physician, and we will wait to make any further determinations until we find out additional information from law enforcement agencies.”